Flexible coupling



April 13, 1937. A, LEE Re. 20,329

FLEXIBLE COUPLING ori inal Filed June 27, 1955 y l f E E 7 ifs ija INVENTOR Reinued Apr. 13, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE lielt Company. Illinois W No. 2.042,

, dated June 2, 1936, Serial No. 28,624, June $1, 1935. Application for reissue December 31, 1936, Serial No. 118,6

110mm. (Casi-19) 1111s invention relates to a flexible coupling of the roller chain type for the driving interconnection of two shafts arranged in approximate axial alignment. 1

For the interconnection of a driving and driven shaft, it is usual to utilise flexible couplings comprising sprockets mounted on the adjacent terminals of the shafts, and also for slight offset misalignment of the shafts, nnce the sprocket teeth 10. may slide upon rotatable bushing. or rollers,

carried by the transverse elements of the sprocket chain and into an inclined position with respect to the axes of the elements. At low such flexible couplings, as commonly '15 made, are relatively satisfactory. At high speed,

however, the relative sliding'movement between the sprocket teeth and the bushing, or roller, on the transverse element of the sprocket chain, and the inclination of the sprocket teeth, causes rapid 2o destnictionofthesprocketteeth. Thisishighlv disadvantageous since the sprockets so used are relatively expensive, and since machinery driven through the flexible coupling must remain idle through the relatlvely extended interval of time required for the removal of a work sprocket and the mounting of a fresh one. Various expedients. more or less successful, have been proposed or utilised to overcome this disadvantage of The object of my invention is to provide a flexihlechaincouplingJnwhichtheteeth ofthe shaft-carried sprockets, interconnected by the chain, are from destructive wear by ele-' ments of the chain which assume the friction pro- 35 duced by misalignment of theshai'ts which carry thesprocketa, v

Stated more generally, the object of my invention is to provide a high-speed flex1ble chain coupling, in which the sprockets of the coupling 40 have a long working life.

In the I drawing Fig. I is a view, partly in elevationand partly in section, showing myfletlblechalncoupllng withthesprocheteiement'softhecouplin'gintherelativepositionin whichtheywouldlieifmountedterminallyon shafts positioned in accurate terminal alignment with each other, and showing the flexible chain of the coupling interconnecting the two sprocket w-elements for interconnection of the shafts upon which they are concentrlcalb mounted,

Flanisafragmentary, sectionalviewthrough the sprockets'andchain ofmy flexible coupling, iilustratingaposltionassmnedbythepartsin as a condition ofaugulanaxial t of,

the'shafts, and illustrating also a condition caused by an axially offset misalignment of the shafts.

Fig. 111 of the drawing is a fragmentary, sectional view through the sprockets and chain of my coupling, illustrating the position of the parts 6 assumed under a different condition of angular, axial misalignment of the shafts upon which the sprockets are mounted.

Hg. IV is a fragmentary, sectional view through two sprockets and the interconnecting chain 10 therefor, illustrating the adaptation of my invention to a flexible chain coupling of the double chain type.

Referring to Figs. 1 to in inclusive. of the drawing, reference numerals l and la designate 16 the sprockets which are mounted terminally on the shafts which are to have end interconnection. Each of the sprockets l and la is formed as a tubular hub, having interiorly thereof a key-way 2 for fixed mounting of the sprocket on its asea sociated shaft. -Adjacent its forward terminal. each of the sprocket bodies carrles'peripherally arranged and uniformly spaced sprocket teeth I. Primarily, the sprocket chain cooperating with the teeth on both sprockets, and thereby providas ing a driving interconnection between the shafts on which the sprockets are carried, is of. common form. It thus comprises longitudinal con nectinglinkslandtandtransversepinsl, which may be riveted outwardly of the outer connecting links 4. Each of the transverse elements, or pins,lhasthereonabushingl.

On the bushings l I mount rollers I and 9. arranged to be contacted, respectively, by the teeth of the two sprockets. The length of the transverse pin and bushing between the two inner link elements 5 of the bly, and the width of the rollers l ands, is such as to leave a substantial space between the rollers and beyond the outer faces of each, when the shafts to which 40 the coupling is applied are in accurate. axial alignment with each other. The rollers l and s are; freely mounted on bushings l for transverse movement therealong, as well as rotation thereon.

It will be noted that the rollers are spool-shape, having each spaced peripheral flanges II, to provide a channel II in which sprockets may lie. There is thus an engagement between the sprocket teeth and the rollers, which tends to produce transverse movement of the rollers on the bushing] with the sprocket teeth upon any change in the relative angular posltioncf the Upon axialnu of ,the shafts carryin the sprockets, the sprocket teeth do not, therefore. slide in direct contact with uibearocking the pin 8, or its surrounding bushing I. On the .the tooth-embracing, shiftable roliersofmy coucontrary, the sprocket teeth being engaged by piling; i Y the concave, peripheral surfaces ofthe rollers, In Fig. IV of the drawing, the assembly is efchanged angular position of the sprockets causes I a transverse shifting movement of the rollers, In

without sliding contact between the sprocket dou 1e teeth I and the bushingfl. This obviates such as well as the outer links II and It, correspondfrlctional wear upon the sprocket teeth as'would ing to the links 4 and. 5 of the structure illustend to wear awaythe body of the teeth. trated in Figs. I to I11 oi'the drawing. In this 10 gl 'ig. II of the drawing illustrates angular, axmodification the transverse element, or pin, II ial misalignment of the shafts carrying the carries two individual bushings it upon which sprocketawhich, in the plane in which the view the rollers I and t are i mounted. In'this is taken. causes the rollers 8 and l to move opmodification of my coupling the transverse pins positely along the transverse element, or pin 6. ll must be of increased length, in order to pro- 18 Referring particularly to the sprocketJa, and totherollertassociatedwithititwillbeseen that the position of the sprocket tooth I in the channel ll of the roller has caused the roller to shift its position, the change in angular position the fact that my invention may be embodied in 0 of the sprocket being compensated by outward a flexible chain coupling of the double chain movement -'of the roller I along the transverse type. as well ,as in'one of the single chain type. element. This same figure oi the drawing represents the condition existing upon oii'set misalignment of the shafts, as well as an angular 25 misalignment of the shafts. Referringspecificallytothesprocket Landtherollerlbywhich the teeth of that beseenthatthisrollerihasaisoshiftedalong sprockets from cominginto contact with each the transverse element in compensation for another. Since in either modification of my inven- 30 gularmisalignment of? the shaft which carries tion the sprocket teeth are embraced by the the sprocket. Since, however, this sprocket l is shiftable concave rollers, there is thus in the sinalso slightly oifset i'rom the true line of centers, a ain mbodiment of my invention no POIII- there is a tendency for thesprocket tooth to rock "contactbetween the two sprockets. in the concavity of the roller, not only assuming commercial use, I have demonstrated a position of angularity with respect to the roller, butaisolyingliishtlyoutofcontact withthe base ofthe roller concavity, or channeh ii. i It should be noted that this ofiset misalignment isa condition which, in the absence of free 4 tooth-embracing rollers, produces, such relative movement between the sprocket teeth-and the bushings, or rollers, with which they are in contact,thatthesprocketteetharedestroyedwith' partimilar rapidity. In order that there may. rollers.

movement between the sprocket practi were destroyed within a period of teeth and the rollers with whiohthey engage, the slightly less than six months; but underidentimit shifting of the rollers 'along the transverse element.

reason that the advantage of a double chain, as distinguished from a single chain in a-ooupling 'ofthistyparesidesinthefactthatthecentral pling, which was invented by me because of the eraltypeasappliedtothedrivingofminin'gmachines at high speed. In such work, I found it impossible to utilise fiexibie couplings with single rollers, or bushings, for morethan two months without sprocket replacement. Under identical is'assumed by the shiftable rollwearing effect of shifting I movement and 'of angular tact to which the region sprocket themselves inclinasubiected. Y

It is, of-course, posflble to have a-sin'gle roller which it is aligned. Such arrangement, while described, would, however. 'provide'a fiexible'chain coupling definitely superior-1 to flue type as previously knbwn to Iclaimas my'invention:

over an anticipated condition whichthefiexiblecouplingisdesignedtoreniedy; The I'll!- the atoothedVsprocket-oneachof vide clearance vto both sida of'each roller to per-,

i the marked superiority of my flexible chain cou- 1. Ida flexible co in to; two arrangedin approsimateasial alignmentwith each fectively that shown in Figs. I to I11 inclusive. modification, however, there is shown a. chain, which has centrallinks l3 and ll,

This modific'ation'is shown merely to illustrate It has, as an embodiment of my invention, no individual functional import. This is for the sprocketare engaged,itwill links preventthe teeth of the two connected difiiulty experienced with couplings ofthis geneonditionsthesprocketsofa'eouplinghavingtwo made in accordance with the-best prior thespi'ocketteeth,aniiilrhich eachpairfshiftable transverselyoftheshaft :andarrangedtoens sethespmcketteethwith definitely inferior to the arrangement shown his formed of transverse elements with connecting therebetween, rollers mounted in pairs on said links therebetween; rollers mounted in pairs on i said transverse elements and associated respec-- tively with the two sprockets of the coupling, at; a least one of each pair of rollers being'free on the transverse elements and dimensioned to provide space for movement of the roller along its transverse element and having a peripheral sprocket tooth-embracing. concavity. providing engage- 10 mt between the roller and a sprocket tooth and tending to cause shiftingmovement of the roller on its transverse element under force exerted on the roller by its associated sprocket teeth in changing relative angular position of the i5 sprockets.

2. In a flexible coupling for two shafts arranged in approximate axial alignment with each other comprising a toothed sprocket on each of the shafts, and a sprocket-encircling chain, mformed of t elements with connecting links-therebetween; rollers mounted in pairs on said transverse elements and associated respectively with the two sprockets of the coupling, said rollers being free on the transverse elements and 25 dimensioned to provide space for movement of the rollers along the transverse elements, and peripheral sprocket tooth-embracing concavities in the said rollers providing engagement between the rollers and the sprocket teeth and tending so to cause shifting movement of the rollers on.

their transverse elements under force exerted on the roller by the sprocket teeth in changing relative angular position of the sprockets.

3. In a flexible coupling for two shafts ar- 3 rangedin approximate axial alignment with each other comprising a toothed sprocket on each of the shafts, and a sprocket-encircling chain formed of transverse elements with connecting links therebetween; rollers mounted in pairs on said transverse elements and associated respec tiveiy with the two sprockets ofthe coupling, at least one of each pair of rollers being free on the transverse elements and dimensioned to provide space for shifting movement of the roller along the transverse elements, and means providing engagement. between said shiftable roller and v the teeth of the sprocket emaciated with it and tending to cause shifting movement of the roller on its transverse element under force exerted on, 50 the roller by its associated sprocket teeth in changing relative angular position of the sprockets.

4. In a flexible coupling for 'two shafts arranged in approximate axial alignment with each other comprising a toothed sprocket on each of the shafts. and a sprocket-encircling chain formed of transverse elements with connecting links therebetween; rollers mounted in pairs on said transverse elements for cooperation respectively with the teeth of the two shaft-carried sprockets, said rollers being free on said transverse elements and dimensioned to provide space for movement of ,the rollers along the transverse elements, and means providing engagement be tween the said rollers and the teeth of the V sprockets associated with'them and tending to, cause, shifting movement of the rollers on the elements under force exerted on the rollers by the sprocket/teeth in changing relative angular position of thesprockets.

5. In a flexible coupling for two shafts arran e in approximate axial alignment with each other comprising a toothed sprocket on each of the shafts, a sprocket-encircling chain formed 75 of transverse elements with connecting links said transverseelemenis and associated transverse elements for cooperation respectively with the teeth of each shaft-carried sprocket, at least one roller of each pair being free to shift along the transverse element on which it is mounted, said shiftable roller and its associated sprocket being interlocked to provide resistance to transverse movement of the sprocket teeth on the roller, greater than the resistance to transverse movement between the rolier and the transverse element on which it is mounted, whereby the roller is shifted transversely under force exerted edit by its associated sprocket teeth in changing relative angular position of thesprockets.

6. Inc, flexible coupling for two shafts arranged in approximate axial alignment with each other comprising a toothed. sprocket on each of the shafts, a sprocket-encircling chain formed of transverse elements with connecting links therebetween, rollers mounted in pairs on said trans verse elements for cooperation respectively with the teeth of each shaft-carried sprocket, the

said rollers being free to shift along the trans verse elements on which they are mounted, said shiftable rollers and their associated sprockets being interlocked to provide resistance'to transverse movement of the sprocket teeth on the roll-s are greater than the resistance to transverse movement between the rollers and the transverse elements on which they are mounted, whereby the rollers are shifted transversely under force exerted on them by the sprockets in changing relative angular position of the sprockets.

'1,- In a flexible coupling; for two shafts arranged in approximate axialalignment with each other comprising a toothed sprocket on each of the shafts, and a sprocket-encircling chain formed of transverse elements with connecting links therebetween; rollers mounted in pairs on said transverse elements and associated respectively with the two sprockets of the coupling, at least one of each pair of rollers being free on the transverse elements and dimensioned to providespace for movement of the rolleiaalqng its transverse movement,'the roller being free to move along its transverse element under force exerted on the roller by, its associated sprocket teeth in changing relative angular position of the sprockets. V

8. In .a flexible coupling for two shafts arranged in approximate axial alignment with each other comprising a toothed sprocket on each of the shafts, and a sprocket encircling chain formed of transverse elements with connecting links therebetween; rollers mounted in pairs on tlvely with the two sprockets of the coupling. said rollers being free onthe transverse elements and dimensioned to provide space for movement of the rollers along the transverse elements, the

tooth ed sprockets arranged side" by side in substantial axial alignment, aroller chain encircl-.

ingsaidis'procketslinksandn nsand rollersencirclingthepinatherebeingoneach relative angupeltlonotthe 1.A flexible 911911!!! ehsttsoolnmllnsstoothed sprockehlncludln: oonneetlng llnks and transversemembempelrsotrollersrotetebleonthe trsmversememhemeeichassoclstedrespeetlvely wlthoneol'thetwolprockemthespeeeonthe lotrenevereeelementsoecupledlytherollersbelng lreeterthnnthetotsl-lenzthottherollers. the rollersbelngtreetomovealonz thetransverse v 80,889 thesproeketteethln ohsnslne reletlve' tor ulnILv shaped V sprocketonopposed eendeoteeeh shntt. e chnln encircling both- 11.4 flexible eounllnz-tor exlnlly m shattscomprlslnzstoothedsprocketonoppoeeu ends of eeehshnthesehsln enelrelln both.

tooth as the anzularposltlon o! the sprocket 

